2013 World Contenders

As 2012 comes to a close, we all look forward and anticipate the 2013 season. The competition most gym fans are probably looking most forward to is the 2013 World Championships in Antwerp. With such great talent in the USA Gymnastics program, it is a little difficult to predict who will be on that World Championship team. With the success of the Fierce Five, will any train and excel enough to move on to Worlds? Will the incoming seniors dominate? Will Olympic alternates Elizabeth Price and Sarah Finnegan take over the senior ranks? With the 2012 season and preparation of 2013 in mind, a list of contenders has been composed.

Simone Biles

Photo Credit: Heather Maynez

Gym: Bannon’s Gymnastics
Strengths: vault and floor
Major accomplishments:
· 1st AA at 2012 Secret US Classic (junior)
· 2nd VT at 2012 Secret US Classic (junior)
· 1st VT at 2012 Visa Championships (junior)
· 3rd AA at 2012 Visa Championships (junior)
Why she’s a contender: It is well known that Simone is a magnificent vaulter, but being a specialist will not give you the best chances at making a World Championship team. Thankfully, Simone is not only an extraordinary vaulter, but excels in the all-around too. Simone is planning to upgrade some things in her routines as she becomes a senior, which will assist her in having a great 2013 season. With a 2013 season parallel to her 2012 one, Simone can definitely secure a trip to Antwerp.

Rebecca Bross

Photo Credit: Spokeo.com

Gym: WOGA
Strengths: bars and beam
Major accomplishments:
· 3rd UB at 2012 Secret US Classic
· 1st team at 2012 City of Jesolo
· 1st AA at 2010 American Cup
· 2nd team, BB at 2010 World Championships
· 3rd AA, UB at 2010 World Championships
· 2nd AA at 2009 World Championships
· 3rd UB at 2009 World Championships
Why she’s a contender: Out of everyone on this list, Bross has had the most international experience, which is a plus for her. Unfortunately, Rebecca has not been performing at her best lately due to coming back from injuries. Although that may be true, she has persevered through everything she has gone through. She is a six-time World medalist, which would make her a leader and role model to the other girls. It has been rumored that Rebecca has been in the process of creating a new floor routine, which would increase her chances of making this team. Over a year has passed since her brutal knee injury, and if Bross works hard and puts 110% into her 2013 season, she could have a legitimate shot.

Maddie Desch

Photo Credit: Heather Maynez

Gym: GAGE
Strengths: beam and floor
Major accomplishments:
· 1st BB at 2012 Visa Championships (junior)
· 2nd AA at 2012 Visa Championships (junior)
· 3rd FX at 2012 Visa Championships (junior)
· 1st BB at 2012 Secret US Classic (junior)
· 2nd AA, FX, VT at 2012 Secret US Classic (junior)
· 1st team at 2012 City of Jesolo (junior)
Why she’s a contender: One of Maddie’s goals in gymnastics is to be selected as a part of the 2013 World Championships team. That goal may be accomplished. Lately, Maddie has been performing extremely well and consistently, placing in the top 3 in the all-around for all national competitions of 2012. Unfortunately, Maddie has had very little international experience, which hurts her chances in being selected for a huge international meet. Her only international competition was the 2012 City of Jesolo Trophy. But if Maddie is selected for more international assignments before Antwerp and competes well in 2013 (as she’s been doing), then Maddie can reach her goal.

Sarah Finnegan

Photo Credit: USA Gymnastics

Gym: GAGE
Strengths: beam and floor
Major accomplishments:
· 2012 Olympic team alternate
· 2012 BB silver medalist (Visa Championships)
· 3rd AA at 2012 City of Jesolo
· 1st (team) at 2012 City of Jesolo
Why she’s a contender: 2012 has been a breakout year for Sarah, as it was her first year as a senior. She has had only a little international experience, but performed well, as she placed 3rd in the all-around at the 2012 City of Jesolo. She also excels greatly on beam and floor. Sarah’s beam routine is one of the most difficult beam routines in the world and was the 2012 US silver medalist on that apparatus. Her breakout year’s performances proved her to be one of the best as Marta Karolyi named her a 2012 Olympic alternate, meaning Sarah was prepared to represent the USA. From my knowledge, Sarah is back in the gym after sustaining some sort of arm injury (cause unknown), and is readying herself for the 2013 season. If her 2013 season is anything like her 2012 one, there is no reason Sarah shouldn't be representing the US at the 2013 World Championships, whether in the all-around or just for an event final.

Katelyn Ohashi

Photo Credit: Jeff Sipsey

Gym: WOGA
Strengths: bars and beam
Major accomplishments:
· 2nd UB, BB, FX at 2012 Visa Championships (junior)
· 1st UB at 2012 Secret US Classic (junior)
· 1st team, AA, UB, BB, FX at 2012 Pacific Rim Championships (junior)
· 1st team, UB, BB at 2012 City of Jesolo (junior)
Why she’s a contender: When discussing Antwerp 2013, Katelyn Ohashi’s name usually appears in the conversation. Although some believe she has reached her peak already, Katelyn still has the capability to compete at Worlds. Katelyn has always been relatively strong on bars and floor, and has been a decent all-around gymnast lately. Katelyn appears to have peaked around 2010-2011 where she placed in the top 3 of the AA in both years’ Classic and Visas, but with the right training and 2013 season, Katelyn can once again place in the AA, and be considered as an all-arounder for Antwerp. If not, her beam and bars routines are phenomenal and are capable of winning internationally.

Lexie Priessman

Photo Credit: Jessica Frankl

Gym: Cincinnati
Strengths: vault and floor
Major accomplishments:
· 1st team, AA at 2012 City of Jesolo  (junior)
· 2nd UB at 2012 City of Jesolo (junior)
· 3rd FX at 2012 City of Jesolo (junior)
· 1st team, VT at 2012 Pacific Rim Championships
· 2nd AA at 2012 Pacific Rim Championships
Why she’s a contender: As the reigning junior national champion, Lexie will come into the 2013 season strong. As a junior, she has a moderate amount of international experience, and has done relatively well at all international competitions she’s attended. Lexie is a great all-arounder, and is of course pretty strong on all four events. As she enters the senior ranks, Lexie plans to upgrade her routines, which will increase her chances of placing higher and making it to Antwerp 2013.

Elizabeth Price

Photo Credit: USA Gymnastics

Gym: Parkette’s
Strengths: vault and floor
Major accomplishments:
· 2012 Olympic team alternate
· 2012 Stuttgart World Cup AA champion
· 2012 Glasgow World Cup AA champion
· 4th AA at 2012 Olympic trials
· 1st (team) at 2012 Jesolo
· 2nd in vault at 2012 Jesolo
· 1st (team) at 2011 Jesolo
Why she’s a contender: Despite 2012 being Ebee’s first year as a senior, she has already had her share of international experience. Not only does she have international experience, but she has been quite prosperous internationally, including recent all-around victories at both the Glasgow and Stuttgart World Cups. Ebee has had a breakout year in 2012, including her 4th place in the AA at the Olympic trials. Marta also obviously must have been prepared for her to represent the USA by making her a 2012 Olympic alternate. Price has proven to be a strong all-arounder, and is in serious contention for the 2013 World Championship team.

Kyla Ross

Photo Credit: Unknown

Gym: Gym-Max
Strengths: bars and beam
Major accomplishments:
· 2012 Olympic team gold
· 1st UB at 2012 Olympic trials
· 3rd BB at 2012 Olympic trials
· 2nd UB at 2012 Visa Championships
· 2nd AA at 2012 Secret US Classic
· 1st team, AA, UB, and BB at 2012 City of Jesolo
Why she’s a contender: Kyla has always been pretty prosperous in competition, and with her solid performance in the Olympics, she should be in consideration for the world championships team. Unlike most of the Fierce Five, Kyla has returned to training and been in the gym for a few months now. She has had her share of international experience, including the recent Olympics, several City of Jesolo Trophy competitions, and the Pacific Rim Championships. Kyla is also a strong all-arounder, but is also excellent internationally on bars and beam. Many see Kyla as the “new Bridget Sloan.” Like Bridget, Kyla was the baby of the Olympic team. Bridget then came into 2009 strong, became the national and world champion. Kyla has the ability and talent to follow in Bridget’s footsteps. If not an all-arounder, Kyla can succeed in an event final for beam or bars.

Sabrina Vega

Photo Credit: USA Gymnastics

Gym: GAGE
Strengths: beam and floor
Major accomplishments:
· 4th AA at 2012 Secret US Classic
· 3rd FX at 2012 Secret US Classic
· 1st team at 2011 World Championships
· 4th FX at 2011 Visa Championships
· 2nd FX at 2011 CoverGirl Classic
· 3rd AA at 2011 CoverGirl Classic
· 1st team, FX at 2011 City of Jesolo
· 2nd UB at 2011 City of Jesolo
· 3rd BB at 2011 City of Jesolo
Why she’s a contender: Sabrina was a member of the 2011 gold-medal-winning World Championship team, which shows she can compete internationally, as she’s done multiple times. Unfortunately, she has not been placing as high as she used to before gymnasts such as Elizabeth Price entered the senior ranks, but Sabrina has moved gyms to GAGE, where she can train with contenders Sarah Finnegan and Maddie Desch. With more elites to train with, hopefully Sabrina will receive the motivation and training necessary to excel in 2013. If Sabrina can compete as well as she did in 2011, then Sabrina can make her second World Championship team.

All results from usagym.com.

Written By: Amanda (@amanda_carmela)